See amid the winter’s snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See, the gentle Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.
Refrain
Hail that ever blessèd morn,
Hail redemption’s happy dawn,
Sing through all Jerusalem:
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He who, thronèd in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.
Refrain
Say, you holy shepherds, say,
Tell your joyful news
today.
Why have you now left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?
Refrain
As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing ‘Peace on earth’
Told us of the Savior’s birth.
Refrain
Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.
Refrain
Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to
resemble Thee,
In Thy sweet humility.
Refrain
1 See, amid the winter snow,
born for us on earth below;
see, the gentle Lamb appears,
promised from eternal years:
Hail, O ever-blessèd morn!
hail, redemption's happy dawn!
sing through all Jerusalem:
'Christ is born in Bethlehem!'
2 Low within a manger lies
he who built the starry skies;
he who, throned in height sublime,
reigns above the cherubim:
Hail, O ever-blessèd morn . . .
TREBLE VOICES
3 Say, you humble
shepherds, say
what's your joyful news today;
tell us why you've left your sheep
on the lonely mountain steep:
Hail, O ever-blessèd morn . . .
MEN
4 'As we watched at dead of night,
all around us shone a light;
angels singing peace on earth
told us of a Saviour's birth.'
Hail, O ever-blessèd morn . . .
5 Sacred infant, king most dear,
what a tender love was here,
thus to come from highest bliss
down to such a world as this!
Hail,
O ever-blessèd morn . . .
6 Holy Saviour, born on earth,
teach us by your lowly birth;
grant that we may ever be
taught by such humility.
Hail, O ever-blessèd morn . . .
Edward Caswall
© in this version The Jubilate Group
1. See amid the win ter's snow,
born for us on earth below;
see, the Lamb of God appears,
promised from eternal years.
Refrain:
Hail, O everblessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
2. Lo, with in a manger lies
he who built the starry skies,
and who, throned in height sublime,
sits amid the cherubim.
(Refrain)
3. Say, now holy shepherds, say,
tell your joyful news today;
tell us why you left your sheep
on the lonely mountain steep.
(Refrain)
4. 'As we watched at dead of night,
lo, we saw a wondrous sight,
angels, singing peace on earth,
told us of the Saviour's birth?'
(Refrain)
5. Sacred infant, all divine,
of God's tender love the sign,
for you came from highest bliss,
down to such a world as this!
(Refrain)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"See, amid the Winter's Snow", also known as "The Hymn for Christmas",[1] is an English Christmas carol, written by Edward Caswall and first published in 1858. In 1871 Sir John Goss composed a hymn tune for it, "Humility", and as "Hymn for Christmas Day", it was included in Christmas Carols New And Old, the anthology edited by Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer .[2]
History[edit]
Caswall wrote "See, amid the winter's snow" shortly after converting from the Church of England to the Roman Catholic Church and joining the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. The hymn was published earliest in 1858 as part of The Masque of Mary and Other Poems by Caswall.[3] In 1871, John Goss wrote the tune "Humility" specifically for the carol. Later in the year, Bramley and Stainer selected "See, amid the winter's snow" to be published nationwide in their "Christmas Carols Old and New" hymn book. It was selected to be included in "Christmas Carols Old and New" as one of the carols that had "proved their hold upon the popular mind".[4] While the carol became popular, a number of verses were cut from later publications of "See, amid the Winter's Snow". This includes the original final verse about the Virgin Mary, which was often cut out of non-Catholic hymnals.[5]
The artist Edward Dalziel used the words of this hymn below his engraving of the English downland with animals, even though the engraving did not have any snow in it.[4]
The tune has been re-used in a variety of social protest and union songs in the late 20th century, beginning with "Coal, Not Dole", written in the mid-1980s by Kay Sutcliffe about the closing of the Kent coal fields to a tune by Paul Abrahams, but later reset to Goss's tune at the suggestion of John Tams and recorded by Coope Boyes and Simpson.[6][7] Shelley Posen wrote "No More Fish, No Fishermen" in 1996 about the end of the cod fishery in Newfoundland. Australian John Warner wrote "Bring out the Banners" on the 150th anniversary of Australia's eight-hour work day rule in 1996.[8]
Composition and analysis[edit]
"See, amid the winter's snow" was initially composed with seven verses of four lines with a chorus after each one.[9] The chorus' line calls for the listener to "sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem".[1] Several hymnbooks do not contain all seven verses.[9] Goss gave advice in the music that the carol would be best performed solo by a "Treble or Tenor or, alternatively".[4] The writer J. R. Watson commented on study of the hymn that was an example of Caswell's objectivity. He also stated that the hymn develops a dialogue with the singers and the shepherds collectively rather than individually.[1] Aled Jones commented that the usage of snow in the carol was a message of purity against the sins of the world.[4]
Lyrics[edit]
The lyrics to this carol's usage in the majority of hymnals are as follows:
See, amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on Earth below,
See, the tender Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.
Chorus:
Hail, thou ever blessed morn,
Hail redemption's happy dawn,
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He
who, throned in height sublime,
Sits among the cherubim.
Hail…
Say, ye holy shepherds, say,
What your joyful news today;
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?
Hail…
"As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light:
Angels singing 'Peace On Earth'
Told us of the Saviour's birth."
Hail…
Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was
Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.
Hail…
Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee,
In Thy sweet humility.
Hail…
Virgin Mother, Mary blest
By the joys that fill thy breast,
Pray for us, that we may prove
Worthy of the Saviour's love.
Hail…
Melody[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Marie de Flon, Nancy (2005). Edward Caswall. Gracewing Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 0852446071.
- ^ "Table of Contents – Bramley and Stainer". Hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
- ^ Caswall, Edward (1858). The Masque of Mary and Other Poems. Retrieved 2 December 2016 – via Internet Archive. The publication date says "MDCCCLVIII."
- ^ a b c d Jones, Aled (2010). Aled Jones' Forty Favourite Christmas Carols. Random House. pp. 128–129. ISBN 978-1409051107.
- ^ Watson, John Richard (1997). The English Hymn: A Critical and Historical Study (reprint ed.). Clarendon Press. p. 370. ISBN 0198267622.
- ^ "Coal Not Dole [Kay Sutcliffe, Paul Abrahams]".
- ^ "Origin: Coal Not Dole (Kay Sutcliffe)".
- ^ Mudcat discussion of the song's origin
- ^ a b "See Amid the Winter's Snow". Hymnary.com. Retrieved 2014-12-04.